You ask whether certain information is subject to required public disclosure under the Public
Information Act, chapter 552 of the Government Code. Your request was assigned
ID# 127308.

Section 552.101 of the Government Code excepts from disclosure "information considered
to be confidential by law, either constitutional, statutory, or by judicial decision." Section
261.201 of the Family Code reads in part as follows:

(a) The following information is confidential, is not subject to public
release under Chapter 552, Government Code, and may be disclosed
only for purposes consistent with this code and applicable federal or
state law or under rules adopted by an investigating agency:

(1) a report of alleged or suspected abuse or neglect made under
this chapter and the identity of the person making the report; and

(2) except as otherwise provided in this section, the files, reports,
records, communications, audiotapes, videotapes, and working
papers used or developed in an investigation under this chapter or
in providing services as a result of an investigation.

We believe that the requested information consists of reports, records, and working papers
used or developed in an investigation made under chapter 261 of the Family Code. Because
you have not cited any specific rule that the investigating agency has adopted with regard to
the release of this type of information, we assume that no such regulation exists. Given that
assumption, the requested information is confidential pursuant to section 261.201 of the
Family Code. See Open Records Decision No. 440 at 2 (1986) (construing predecessor
statute). Accordingly, you must not release the requested information to the requestor.(1)

In light of our conclusion under section 552.101, we need not address the applicability of
other exceptions, if any. We are resolving this matter with this informal letter ruling rather
than with a published open records decision. This ruling is limited to the particular records
at issue under the facts presented to us in this request and may not be relied upon as a
previous determination regarding any other records. If you have questions about this ruling,
please contact our office.

Yours very truly,

Ruth H. Soucy
Assistant Attorney General
Open Records Division

RHS/ch

Ref.: ID# 127308

Encl: Submitted documents

Footnotes

1. We note that if the investigation has been referred to the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services (the "department"), a parent who is a requestor may be entitled to access to the department's records. Section 261.201(f) of the Family Code provides that the department, upon request and subject to its own rules:

shall provide to the parent, managing conservator, or other legal representative of a child who is the subject of reported abuse or neglect information concerning the reported abuse or neglect that would otherwise be confidential under this section if the department has edited the information to protect the confidentiality of the identity of the person who made the report and any other person whose life or safety may be endangered by the disclosure.